A sewage works owned by Thames Water may need to be upgraded in a bid to cope with thousands of extra homes planned for the Wycombe district as part of the Local Plan.

Little Marlow Sewage Treatment Works, off Marlow Road, treats all sewage from the Marlow, Bourne End and High Wycombe areas – but fears have been raised about whether it will be able to cope with the demand of the thousands of extra homes that could be built as part of the Local Plan.

The centre has faced a number of issues within the past four years and was one of five treatment works across Bucks and Oxfordshire that sent raw sewage into rivers in 2013 and 2014, leaving people and animals ill, and killing thousands of fish.

Thames Water was slapped with a record £20.3 million fine for polluting the River Thames with 1.4 billion litres of sewage.

The issue about whether or not the centre would be able to cope with the extra homes planned for the area by council bosses – which looks set to be around 5,200 homes in the High Wycombe area and around 750 in Bourne End and Wooburn – was first raised by cllr Khalil Ahmed at a district meeting on April 3.

Addressing planning boss, cllr David Johncock, cllr Ahmed asked for “reassurance” that the infrastructure at Little Marlow “will be able to cope” with the proposed extra housing.

Cllr Johncock said: “We are aware that in 2014, after these incidents, Thames Water undertook an extensive refurbishment programme to overcome performance issue at the Little Marlow Works. 

“I also note that the environment agency have reported that ‘Thames Water continues to improve their management of the site and that the operations at Little Marlow Sewage Treatment Works are under better control’.

“We do work closely with Thames Water to ensure they are aware of levels and timing of housing and employment growth so that they can ensure that sufficient capacity at the Little Marlow Works is maintained and to meet their water quality consents.

“Thames Water have informed us during the work on the new Local Plan that a capacity upgrade will be required at Little Marlow Works.”

A spokesman for Thames Water confirmed that the company will be looking at upgrading capacity.

She said: “We’re currently reviewing the growth requirements of our sewage works in catchments that have been highlighted as "growth areas" as part of our 2020-2025 business plan.

“If upgrades are required at the Little Marlow site we will ensure these are in place as developments within the Local Plan progress.”

Consultation on Thames Water’s next business plan is due to take place from next year, according to cllr Johncock.